Jun 11, 2012

Making your own ketchup is so EASY to make at home and making it yourself allows you to control what goes into it.

Ketchup is as American as apple pie, that sweet-sour combination on french fries are irresistible and who doesn't love it on their burgers! But have you ever checked the label of your favorite brand of ketchup? High Fructose Corn Syrup is used to sweeten most brands of ketchup although I did find organic Heinz ketchup in my health food store that does not contain HFCS's, but it was half the size at a higher price.

So I thought it would be fun to try making my own and tested and played around with a few recipes until I found one that I loved with some slight changes using honey as my sweetener and cutting back on the sugar and tested it out on some grilled fries (recipe coming!) and the results were delicious...

Just remember, raw/unpasteurized honey poses a health risk for pregnancies, children 12 months & under and maybe be an issue others with compromised immune systems. I use raw honey too (preferred), just be aware of your target eater.

A few hints to make this better?1. Agave is pure sugar. Good honey is a much better choice.2. Use 1/2 packet of Stevia instead of sugar.3. Use kosher salt instead of table salt.This way you have a more diabetic friendly recipe with no preservatives except the white vinegar.

Jennifer, raw honey is not unsafe for pregnant women. The pasteurization process of honey is no different, because the process is used to prevent crystallization, not kill bacteria. The adult digestive system will kill the bacteria in the honey before it reaches the fetus, and therefore is safe. It is dangerous for infants under age 1, because their digestive systems aren't acidic enough to kills the spores and it can cause botulism.

Agave nectar making mostly fructose with glucose and it comes from a plant-making it a bit healthier. Table sugar also known as Sucrose is an crystallized Chemical/Compound with no nutritional value. The name Sugar is s description for sweeteners. Agave is a pure sugar but a natural sugar in stead of a chemicals- we all wish it still came from Sugar cane.

Sugar is sugar is sugar. ALL sugar is bad for you, excepting fructose when packaged with the fiber it came with (ie. whole/pureed fruit) and even fruit shouldn't be consumed in large quantities. There are also concerns regarding hormone disruptions with agave, while all of the science isn't in yet, I'm not willing to risk it with my own children and husband.

I did this recipe x4, and made a huge batch. That was months ago, and it's still fine in the fridge. (Although I think we're about to finish it off this weekend w/ our pending cookout.) In fact, the next time I make it, I plan to cook it about 15 minutes, then can it, seal it, and cook it in a water bath for another 10 minutes. It'll keep a lot longer this way, and you'll have ketchup for a year or more.This really is the perfect recipe, and is better than most ketchups out there. We will just never buy ketchup again.

I had been looking online for lactofermented ketchup recipes because I had read that they last a couple of months in the fridge. I found a recipe that looks pretty easy in which they use either whey (drained from yogurt) or vegetable starter culture to culture the homemade ketchup. Here is the link to the recipe, which includes a video:http://www.foodrenegade.com/homemade-lactofermented-ketchup-recipe/

Thanks for this recipe. I use ketchup as a binder when cooking ground meat. I can't use eggs due to my daughter's allergies. I could sure use the cost savings from the price of Heinz' organic ketchup, which is what I use.

having a toddler, I have never purchased so much ketchup as I do now. I JUST got home from grocery store and thought "I wish I knew how to make my own" while I was grabbing yet another bottle of ketchup there. Thank you so much!!!

This is a great idea, ketchup is an ingredient I often overlook even though its so commonly used. This recipe makes my mind go back to my experience at the restaurant "Ketchup" in L.A. I ordered their fries (everyone had been raving about them) and the dish came with 5 different home-made ketchups- some more sweet, some salty...etc. My favorite was one that had cinnamon infusions! I guess the lesson here is that we shouldn't underestimate ketchup! :) Thanks for sharing the recipe.

This is great! I love knowing what's actually in the food/condiments, ect that I put into my body. It's also a plus that this can be made on the stove, since it's been 80+ degrees here almost every day! Definitely looking forward to that fry recipe, considering how bad fries really are for you.

Agave is really terrible for you! It's actually worse than HFCS. See this post: http://www.foodrenegade.com/agave-nectar-good-or-bad/. It's frustrating how the agave makers managed to market it to people to think that it's healthy!

I was just thinking the same thing. It's nearly impossible to find ketchup without HFCS and organic is so pricey. I like my ketchup on the vinegar/sour side so I might add a little more vinegar and a little less water.

You know, I just looked at the ketchup we have this morning and realized it was the Hunt's brand 100% Natural with no HFCS (though it isn't organic). I actually bought it on sale so it was cheaper than all the other brands. But even when its not on sale, its not super expensive like the organic ones. Might be a good alternative for some, though I definitely want to make my own. Especially, like you said, to customize the flavor! I'm so excited to try this!

I have bought that kind for a while now because it was HFCS-free. BEWARE! The last time I picked it up it was no longer HFCS-free and says preservative free. Sure enough, read the label and HFCS is in there :( Grr. Thumbs down Hunt's!

I am holding a weekly cooking "camp" for my 8-year old twin daughters this summer. They are going to pick and choose what they want to learn to make, but for our first lesson we are going to make this ketchup and fries (which will be baked or grilled). Thank you, Gina!! You make my life easy =)

I did find a 100% Natural Hunt's Ketchup that says NO High Fructose Corn Syrup....and there is none listed on the label! The price was not out this world! Just thought I'd share!Thanks for this great recipe!!!Elizabeth

I've been really really happy with the reduced sugar hienz though ;) no HFCS's. And I see they also have a "simply Heinz" that contains no HFCS either. (boy they make a lot of different ketchups! Lol who knew!

Wonder how to make without using any canned items - no matter what it is, a canned item comes with it's chemicals, preservatives, and all things unnatural. Home grown tomatoes on the vine; must be some way to transform them into ketchup.

I have started buying the Hunt's without HFCS too. I'm in the midwest and they sell it at Walmart and SuperTarget. It's the same price as the regular Hunt's which is great! Still, this seems like it would be cheaper then the $1.50 I paid yesterday for a new bottle! :)

How do you always seem to know just when I need a recipe, lol? Cutting out regular sugar and HFCS, and I just found a recipe for one of my favorite BBQ sauces and was wondering how I could do it without store-bought ketchup. Now I know!! (and it may be used for some sauce for ribs for Father's Day!)

I appreciate the fact that you are using honey or agave as sweetener.... but I'm curious why you feel it's necessary to put in ANY white sugar at all. I realize it's only 1 tsp.... but is there something that sugar does to the texture or something that you wouldn't get otherwise? I've always wondered about the chemical reaction of sugar in foods. Just wondering if you could substitute a tsp of stevia instead. I'd love to know why you chose sugar. Thanks!

You are making me long for my Mama's ketchup that she made from our garden tomatoes back in the 1950s. Her recipe included a touch of cinnamon! I don't know where that cinnamon came from but it is delicious. Test in a small amount sometime. You might like it! Keep the good recipes coming! Thanks!

I'm sure this recipe is great but if you're looking for a good ketchup without HFCS, Trader Joe's is the way to go. Their organic ketchup has only 6 ingredients in it and is only $1.99 for a 24 oz bottle. Also comes in at 1 pp+ for 1/4 cup.

I'm spending the summer showing my 9 year old you CAN make a lot of things you would normally buy at the store. This recipe is basic in both flavored an ingredients so she can do most of it herself...thanks

Nesquik syrup has no HFCS, I switched to it from Hershey's several years ago for that very reason. I have also made chocolate syrup myself. I would definitely be interested to see Gina do her magic on a make at home version.

Made this tonight for my "indoor cookout." It was just as amazing as all your recipes are. I've lost 25 lbs in the past 3 months thanks to working out & changing my eating habits. I've included many of your recipes. Thanks so much Gina!!

this was great! I can't believe how easy it is. I am going to whip up another batch and use cayenne pepper and garlic powder to make it a bit spicy...Maybe some red pepper flakes..I found I didn't have to use teh sweetner when using the agave it was sweet enough for my taste!

My daughter and I are ketchup lovers. I use ketchup in a lot of my recipes as well because its great alternative for my readers when they don't have all the spices that are needed. Please share your recipes with my readers. I have over 1 million visitors per month. Lisa Montalva

Can't wait to try this. Because of the abundance of homegrown tomatoes, I definitely want to use those instead of canned tomato paste. Love to capture the fresh taste of summer to pressure can and use all winter long :)

Looking forward to trying this recipe! HFCS in ketchup just makes me insane! I've also linked to your recipe in my new blog post: http://www.noordinaryhomestead.com/11-sauces-condiments-you-can-make-at-home/ Hope you stop by some time when you get a chance!

WOW Gina, I just found your blog when I was looking for a homemade ketchup recipe, which, by the way is delicious. You have such a breadth of tasty looking AND healthy recipes and I can't wait to try them!

Ok, so I am obsessed with ketchup. I put it on almost everything and I ONLY like Heinz (I think Hunt's tastes weird). I've also tried the reduced sugar kind, and other varieties but I don't like any of them. Only the original Heinz recipe.

So to those Ketchup lovers who have already tried this, does this take like Heinz at all? I'd rather not make it if I'm going to be disappointed. I'm sure it is great - because all of Gina's recipes are great - but if it doesn't taste like Heinz, then it won't be for me. Please let me know!

Everyone's tastes are different. The best way to tell is to try for yourself. All the ingredients are low-cost, so you won't lose out on much if you decide it's not what you are looking for. If anything - give it to a friend or neighbor with the recipe attached.

I haven't made this yet so i cant say for sure on the finished product, but I often freeze some tomato paste when there's too much for one meal and it is totally fine to thaw and use later. I'm totally gonna try freezing it too :)

Just by reading the comments, you can tell everyone's tastes vary greatly. If it's too acidic, cut back a bit on the vinegar. If it's too sweet, cut back on the sugar! This is a very low-cost recipe, and once you get it just right for your tastes you'll be saving money in the long run. I can't wait to try this!

Thank you for sharing the recipe you took so much time to develop. As an editor, I would like to share my expertise with you. In the first sentence of the second paragraph, it should read "that sweet-sour combination ..... is..." as combination is a single subject and takes a singular verb. Now, off to make some homemade catsup, finally. Thanks again!

I found you via pinterest...thank you for the recipe. We made it tonight as we are running low on our current stach of HFCS free ketchup and I had all the ingredients for this on hand. It is just a bit sweet for but otherwise perfect. Next time I'll omit the sugar alltogether and put a little less honey but the flavor is spot on. My girl loves it. I don't think I'll be buying ketchup anymore.

Thanks for this great recipe, Gina! I made it the other day, and even the boyfriend thinks it tastes great! In the summer, I buy a lot of local organic honey in my area. I end up spending a pretty penny, but I know it's healthier and I can use it year-round when winter settles in. I love the idea of only a few ingredients in a homemade ketchup and replacing a condiment that is usually ridden with corn syrup and other unnamable things! Thank you again!

It's to get the flavors working together, and cook the raw ingredients (like honey). It also intensifies the flavors. (Sorta like asking why cook anything?) You don't wanna boil it of course, just enough to work out any raw dangers in it.

I was so excited about this that I even featured it on my own blog as one of my "Friday Features". Great recipe, Gina! Never will I buy store bought ketchup again!http://healthyindesign.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/friday-feature-homemade-ketchup-from.html

The contents in this homemade ketchup is going to be way better than buying it processed. As for the pros and cons for agave and honey take the info with a grain of salt. I am so looking forward to making this. Thank you.

I made a great cocktail sauce for shrimp using 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of horseradish, and a cup of ketchup. Excellent! It got great reviews and I had no leftovers. Thanks for this ketchup recipe.

My son goes through SO much ketchup, he puts it on almost everything. I was buying Non-HFCS Ketchups and they were running me $2.44+ per bottle, the cost was really adding up so I am SO happy I finally found you!! I always make the batch double so I don't have to make it as often and I store it in Mason Jars. The only thing I switched was I used Stevia in place of sugar and I used Sea Salt for the Salt but it is still delicious!

Stevia goes through 40 steps to process this from the plant relying on chemicals like acetone, menthanol, ethanol, acetonitrile and isopropanol. some of those are carcinogens. How can a chemically derived extract be deemed safe??

@Candice - "he adult digestive system will kill the bacteria in the honey before it reaches the fetus, and therefore is safe. It is dangerous for infants under age 1, because their digestive systems aren't acidic enough to kills the spores and it can cause botulism."

Why would I use honey then, Stevia or Agave is better, who wants botulism?

Why not just buy organic ketchup, relish, mustard, pickles, etc.....they are no more expensive than conventional...Trader Joe's organics are super cheap and will last awhile and you don't have to make it....